Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-17

her. and while have made no formal avowal
think she realizes the sincerity of my attachment
IL you persist in considering the theme one worthy
the tone you have adopted, We part friendship
| here
They could not help seeing that meant what
| said
i do when tell YOU that mean to offer myself tC
| this lady said kfmbalL
| Nor l., said both the others.
| / turned angrily away, and went back to the
| hotel alone. Ii seemed to me that persons who
did not know when q joke was out Of place vert
unfit associates for gentleman who had his serOu:
moments. took pains TO avoid them during the
week which followed, and soon noticed that the
enlargement had become general. Beardsley
| would meet kimbal without recognition, and
! kimoall would encounter Fisher as though he
were total stranger. L rose early every morning
and stroNd out by the cottage where had left
| the widow, but finding that my steps were dogged
| by the others, took care not to do anything
which should convey 10 their minds the slightest
Information. She seemed to have given up heT
early walks, as never saw her On these occasions.
took dOleful pleasure In turning suddenly and
retradng my steps after passing corners, for was
sure 10 stumble upon my three rivals, scattered
along the way, and each engaged in admitting the
horizon as appeared ] haunted the vicinity OF
the Congress Spring, where She did not come
either, and my rivals became wildly fond Of the
beverage which Is handed up by the small boys
at that point In the evenings walked up and
down the long piazzas Of the Grand Union, with
my three former associates struggling in my rear,
but there were no signs or my charmer.
=, one aay, When had become almost desperate l
threw discretion to the winds, and hastily en-
gaglng carriage, babe the driver follow. BY ar
ranging my route succeeded in meeting her
Squarely at one OF the curves OF the road by the
lake, and boldly raised my hat. Joy OF joys!
she gave me most pleasant nod in return. But,
alas! as turned 10 catch the last glimpse of my
DIVINITY saw Fisher, kfmbal, and BeardSley,
each In separate carriage, and looking awfully
like procession, bowling to her also, and each
receiving an answering nod The thing was very
back TO the hotel.
countered my late friends at every turn, each spy
Ing on the other TO detect any possible advantage
which might be gained by either. Icould not go
any where that they did not follow like corps OF
private detectives. even caught BeardSey look
ing over my shoulder once / wrote business
ietter IN the pubic room. 1t was becoming IN
bearable.
Late one night, as was sitting modify in a
corner or the piazza, Fisher came over and spoke
my name.
'SeloTer?"
well" responded, snappishly.
.. 81 nave plan"
we can't all have her" said Fisher, with some
tnlnS Ike sob In his voice. Maybe she won't
accept any OF us; but It's impossible to go on as
ment."
"An arrangements" repeated.
YES We must get into single f1le."
we must agree in some way who shall try his
IucK urSt, who second and so on. II you agree, !
VIII see the other fellows and bring them here"
AT nrst my inclination was to Indignantly reject
this proposition; but there was a charm about it's
noVeIty IL was true that we were terribly In each
otnerS way at present. II / should succeed in
gett1ng the first chance. felt quite confident that
L should win Even II did not, my lucky stars
clearly f0reShadOwed my fate In this very matter
so consented to a conference. and Fisher went to
ind Beardsley and Kimball
They were not far ofT-Jhe Skulkers! they never
were during those dayS-and they came siding
along, looking diSagreeable enough l thought
FISHER dd most OF the talking, and after several
DrnnOSp6 nd rQio ~ xrp aad
on thlS: We would go in body to the first train
when came the next morning, present our case
10 the nrSt gentleman VINO al1ghted from the rear
Pullman car and abide by his decision
How the Others bore 1t do not know, but did
not close my eyes that night. My heart was in a
nutter when the train came laundering Into the
station. We spotted" our man, a bright-loOking
gentleman about twenty-StX or twenty -Seven
years OF age, who looked surprised Jas well he
mighty when we bore down upon him and pre-
rerred our singular request. We gave him no par
tlcularS at the time except that there was lady
In the case, but begged him to assign an early
hour 10 take evidence. To our great satisfaction
he appointed IL O'clock on the same morning and as
he was 10 stay at our hotel, we all drove up to-
gether.
AT IL we gathered In private pl1lor, and after
drawing lots TO see which should speak first, told
our several stories. our arbitrator, whose name
turned out to be Mr.. Sawyer, at his task with
great dellberation, making cOpiOuS notes as the
testimony proceeded He seemed TO take especial
age should you say?" s.Eyes gray or hazel?"
"Plump, and fair height, eh?" recalled these
things a1terward with pang.
When my turn came l detailed my adventure
with the robber-SOmething hitherto entirely un-
known TO the others l could see their envy at
what must prove strong point In my favor And
when Sawyer said, with emphasis, ''The wretch !
wish could have got one blow ut hlm,"I felt
certain he would admit that had a fair title to
precedence.
''Well. gentlemen" said the arbitrator as he
folded up his papers, sit Will take me few days
10 decide. In the mean time / ought to see the
lady, and find out, If can do so without arousing
her suspicious whether she has preference
"But say" struck In Beardsley. "you must be
falr, you know. Don't step In and cut out the lot
OF US before we get chance TO say word in our
Il give you my wore of honor, replied Mr.. Saw
yer, impressively, "that shall do nothing unbe-
His word OF hOnOri But anticipate.
AS We walked out upon the piazza Fisher
grasped Sawyer's arm and showed him the widow,
who was walking On the opposite side OF the street
With her usual companion. Sawyer observed her
carefully, and reInarkIng that it would not be easy
to mistake her, LETT Us and went TO his room.
While we were awaiting the decision which
might make one OF us supremacy happy and the
others 1nconceivably miserable, we gradually
grew to be better friends. But though we admit
ted that the extent or our estrangement had been
uncalled for, we could not Immediately resume
our old cheerfulnesS. The suspense was too great
for that.
This sawyer was lively fellow We found
within twenty -four hours that he had succeeded
In getting an introduction to tile youthful widow
anu day later we caught him taking a lunch in
company with her and the elderly female. There
was nothing inherently wrong In this preciplta-
ton, but think we all felt one way about It, The
next evening he walked with her FOR an hour. and
the following morning he went with her for water
To the Hathorn spring. The elderly lady was never
very Tar on at these times, which might have re-
eyed us little but for the fact that he never no
ticed US or offered TO communicate with US in any
way. Several days passed, during which we saw
him with the widow and her chaperOn quite too
frequently. Then We held q council OF war, and
Declared ourselves 1QSulted.
"Let us seek him out, all OF us together" said
BeardSley, land demand an explanation"
The motion passed by unanimous vote
one afternoon, In a path OF the park we ran
across Sawyer and the handsome widow alone It
was not the sort OF place should have selected
for scene, but as Sawyer came dozen steps to-
ward US with extended hand Fisher, who hap
pened 10 De In advance declined to accept the vel.
come.
"icu appear to have very bad memory, Sill, n
he sad, very haughtily.
Mr. Sawyer looked at US, as If a little discon-
certed for a moment. Then he said: zone minute
II you please, gentlemen. Allow me to Introduce
TO you my WIFE"
We all stood staring at him.
"Do you mean 10 tell us, blurted out Fisher
shat you have married this lady after your prom
tSe TO U.s."
"After?" said Sawyer. ooh, no: 1t was three
years previously. In June, SO, wasn't It.
M1nnie?" ~ ~
al think so, john" said the lady. looking nm.
necessarily unconcerned, as IL seemed to me "But